- Only remains of one of Dublin's great monasteries, virtually in the center of the city.
- Rare glimpse into "underground Dublin" and the growth (especially upwards) of the city.
- A tantalising hint at more archaeological discoveries waiting literally next door.
- Ultimately a "vaulted cellar" in an area needing redevelopment.
- Saint Mary's was founded around 1139 for the Cistercian Order and settled by monks from Chester (England).
- Once one of the largest monastic buildings of Ireland, now reduced to the chapterhouse built around 1190.
- "Silken Thomas" started his rebellion of 1534 here - by throwing down his Sword of State.
- After the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII the monastery was used as a "quarry".
- The chapterhouse was only rediscovered, 7 feet underground and underneath a bakery, in the 1880s.
Asking a Dubliner for the location of Saint Mary's Chapterhouse is about as sensible as asking him for directions to the old tram sheds - you might stumble upon the occasional "Dub" with this arcane knowledge, but 99 out of 100 will look at you in confusion. Though even the names of nearby Abbey and Mary Streets provide a clue. Just off Abbey Street you will the last remnants of Saint Mary's in a backyard, sparsely signposted in an area suffering from a deluge of signs.
Behind a rather plain entrance steps lead you down into the basement of a warehouse. This basement actually is the old chapterhouse, vaulted and possessing great acoustics. A testament to the medieval builder's art, though unfortunately the Cistercian monks did not go in for decorations in a big way.
Should you now wonder why the monks built underground - the simple answer is that they didn’t. But after the dissolution of the monasteries Dublin literally grew. Today's ground level in the area is several meters higher than it was then. And both the ground and new buildings virtually "swallowed" or incorporated older structures.
While the chapterhouse is a protected structure, redevelopment of the area north of Abbey Street will lead to major building works in the coming years. With the hope of unearthing more hidden remains.
Oh ... nearly forgot about those tram sheds - they are actually further up the small alley, used as a parking garage. You can have a rare glimpse of Victorian Dublin if you turn right upon exiting the chapterhouse.
